Spaghetti-cutting machine



Dec. 25, 1956 A. cuRloNl SPAGHETTI-CUTTING MACHINE 1li fifi( Dec. 25, 1956 A. cuRloNl SPAGHETTI-CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1952 IN VEN TOR. AL D0 C UR/O/Y/ Dec. 25, 1956 A. cURloNl 2,775,215

SPAGHETTI-CUTTING MACHINE Filed April E, 1952- 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. ALDO CUAVON/ United States Patent O i SPAGHETTI-CUTTING MACHINE Curioni, Palisades Park, N. J., assignor to himself and Frank Mariani, New York, N. Y., jointly Aldo ` This `invention relates to a machine for cutting spaghetti to package size.

In the art of preparing spaghetti and similar goods for the market, it would be extremely desirable for technical, eonomical and hygienic reasons, to measure said goods by volume or by counting the strands instead of using hand-operated scales for weighing, as is presently done.

inasmuch as the spaghetti is made of strings or strands having uniform cross-section for its entire length, and knowing for instance that one pound of spaghetti of the conventional length of 101A; inches and of a particular diameter contains 400 strands, it is sutiicient in order to obtain said pound or the volumetric equivalent, to group 400 pieces of the strands of the given length.

i With methods at present in use, either a guillotinetype or saw-type of cutter is used, and it has been practically impossible to obtain uniform lengths of spaghetti strands and to prevent breakage. This was apparently because of displacement of the strands by action of the cutter orthe method of moving the spaghetti relative to the cutters. Hence, the present method cannot be depended upon for picking up 400 pieces of equal length, and the amount of breakage and waste wouldbe impressive.

The basic purpose of this invention is, first of all, to insurecorrect and uniform length for the spaghetti strands and to reduce or completely eliminate breakage and consequently insure the correct weight or volume by the provision of an exact number of pieces of uniform length.

The grouping of the desired number of strands is easily accomplished by adjusting the presses to extrude the correct number of strands in groups with a space between each group to facilitate the picking up of a group as a complete bundle for packaging.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a spaghetti cutting machine which cuts looped spaghetti to two straight lengths of equal size, keyed to the size of the box into which the spaghetti is to be packed.

It is a further object to provide means for cutting the bights olf looped spaghetti and thereby to furnish straight lengths of spaghetti for packaging, and means for carrying away and collecting the bights for further processing. i Another object is `to` provide means for automatically grouping the spaghetti into packageable quantities or rWeights of spaghetti, so that all thatneed be done is to gather up each group of spaghetti and to place it in a suitable container for sale. As stated above, knowing, for instance, that one pound of spaghetti of the conventional length of inches contains 400 strands, each section of the machine will be set for 200 lengths, which, looped on the rod, will result in the desired 400 strands. In order to obtain absolute uniformity in the length of the strands, the supporting rod which is normally bent downward by the spaghetti load is straightened and then the spaghetti trimmed and cut as herein explained. The result is that each section will have for the `case con- 2,775,215 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 ICC sidered one pound weight or the number of strings or strands corresponding to one pound. Heretofore, the spaghetti was weighed for each package but now that the curved supporting rod is forcibly straightened, it is possible to cut all the strands to uniform length and packaging can be apportioned by bulk or volume or quantity of strings.

This method of operation is feasible only on the machine herein described and claimed; it is not feasible with the spaghetti-cutting machines conventionally in use today. Conventional spaghetti machines do not cut the spaghetti to accurate standard lengths. They do not straighten the rod on which the spaghetti is looped and hence some of the spaghetti is cut either too long or too short and there is no real uniformity of length. Conventional spaghetti-cutting machines do not properly trim the spaghetti or properly cut olf their respective loops or bights.` It is not possible, therefore, with spaghetti cut on conventional spaghetti-cutting machines, to pack by volume or quantity as distinguished from weight. Each package of spaghetti must be weighed individually and although the result may be fairlyaccurate, it is wasteful of time and costly and the end appearance is not too good, the reason being that the spaghetti is not cut to equal, uniform lengths.

A further object is the provision of a recessed table for the spaghetti to facilitate handling the spaghetti in removing it from the table and placing it in suitable containers. The recesses render it possible to slip the hands under the spaghetti so that it may be picked up in proper packaging quantities. i

In the machine under discussion, the spaghetti is looped once around a rod. Retractable clamping means are provided to straighten and hold the rod in place for the cutting operation. Upper and lower knives are provided to cut the bights off the spaghetti and another knife is provided Ito trim oft the free ends of the spaghetti, or to divide the straight portions of the spaghetti into two equal lengths. These knives are long enough to cut the entire charge of spaghetti in a single stroke. A chute and conveyer means are provided to carry away the bights and also the rod itself after the cutting operation is at an end and the rod is released by the retractable clamping means.

The stick holding the spaghetti is taken from the conveyer of the drier and slid over the cutting machine table of this invention in such a way as to lay the spaghetti on the table in a single layer of parallel strands close together. The cut is then made by vertical blades exerting a uniform pressure on the whole layer at the same time, so as to prevent any slipping, jumping or breaking of the spaghetti. Furthermore, to prevent any accidental displacement, a yielding holding means is applied upon the entire layer just prior to the application of the blade edge to the spaghetti.

The mechanical and functional features and advantages of the machine herein described and claimed may be listed as follows: i

The machine includes means -for staightening the spaghetti-holding rod and for holding the same in straight condition.

It provides means for uniformly trimming the free ends of the spaghetti.

It provides cutting means on both sides of the rod so as simultaneously to cut the spaghetti to equal lengths and remove the bights therefrom.

In the case of spaghetti having double length, the machine is Ialso provided with means for cutting a double length into single lengths. v

In both cases, that is in the case of spaghetti of single length as well asin fthe case of spaghetti of double length,

conveyor for-the spaghetti elbows fwhich the machine cuts o'ff the spaghetti.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the table of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary .top View of the spaghetti holding rod andthe/,straightening vmeans for same.

Fig. 5 is a-fragmentary side'view of the machine, showing 'theopposite side from that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top view of the machine.

The spaghetti-cutting machine 10 includes a base 12 and structural uprights 14. rl7he base may be mounted on legs or it may be supported on a table yor other suitable support. A table portion =or bed 16 is mounted on the base'to support the spaghetti 18, and it will be noted that said ytable portion has a downwardly curved frontportion 16a. The spaghetti is looped around a rod 20and it is laid upon the stable by drawing it across the curved front portion 16a. The rod .is pushed backwardly over the table yuntil.it abuts arms 22.011 shaft 24. This shaft is rotatably `mounted in :uprights 14, and it will be seen that itzcarries an-arm 26 which hasa roller 28 at its upper end. The roller serves as a cam follower with respect to cam mounted on .shaft 32. When roller 28 is in=engage ment with the -high side of thecam, as shown in Fig. 1, arm 26'is held in outwardly thrust position and arms 22 are held in inwardly .thrust or operative position against rod 20. When `the roller is in engagement with the low side of -the'carm` a pair `ofsprings 34 attached at one-end to arms 22 and at'the opposite end to a bracket or brackets 36-on uprights 14, `tend to hold said roller in engagementl with the cam and by the same .token tend to hold arms 22 in outwardlyithrust inoperative position, as indicated by the dotted lines 22a in Fig. 1.

The machine is also V.provided with .a rod pusher 38 secured to shaft 40. Shaft 40 is rotatably mounted on a rod `42 which is slidablymounted on brackets 44 on base 12. A-compression'spring 46 engages a collar on rod '42 and tends yto urge the rod frontwardly or rightwardly as Vviewed in Fig. l. -One of the pushers 48 on pulleys 5,0,is'y situated for engagement with the front end of rod 42 to push the :rod backwardly (leftwardly as viewed in-Fig. -l) when the pulleys are turned in counterclockwise-direction, also as viewedin Fig. l. It will be seen .that thepulleys yare'mounted on shaft 52 .carried by base 112 yand that a belt S4'eXtends around said pulleys. It is by means of this belt that the pulleys may be turned to actuate orthrust't-he rod forwardly Iagainstthe resistance of spring'46. Thebelt may be attachedto a treadle or any other suitable means by which-it maybe actuated.

In practice, yonly one rod pusher 38 is used and it is disposed centrally of the table. When it is in operative position, it projects up between the groups of spaghetti strands, abuts the center of rod 20 and straightens it against arms 22. This operation is necessary because the :rod .is .normally bowed under the weight of the Y spaghetti.

wardly in'clockwlse direction from'its operative position.

Hence, the rodpusher may be made to exert a positive force against the rod. It will be noted that the end 16b of the table is spaced a distance from the rod when the latter is held in position against the arms 22. This provides room for the rod pusher to spring up into operative position under the influence of torsion spring 56. Also, table end 16h serves as a cam to turn the rod pusher downwardly into inoperative position when rod 42 is retracted under the influence of spring 46.

The cutting operation takes place when the rod 20 is held in position between pusher or pushers 38 and arms 22. There `are three cutters: `a fixed lower blade or knife 60, a movable upper blade or knife 62, and a second movable blade or knife 64. The fixed blade is secured to uprights 14. The movable blade 62 is mounted on a vertically movable ram 66 which is also carried by the uprights. At the top of the ram are a pair of adjustable :cam followers .68 which engage cams 70 on shaft'32. When this shaft rotates to turn cam 30 above mentioned, italso causes rotation of cam 70. Hence, the action of cam 70 on cam follower 68 is synchronized with the actionxof cam 30 lon cam yfollower 28. When the high side of cams 70 `engage cam followers 68, the `ram Vis thrust downwardly to bring its blade 62 into engagement with the spaghetti, thereby severing it. stood ythat this .action produces a downward pressure on rod 20, causing it to move downwardly. This is possible because the -rod rests upon a somewhat vresilient support 72 which juts out from the table. Said support may be a sheet of springmetal. There are, `of course, openings in said resilientsupport vfor therod pusher or pushers Vto project through. :When rod 20 moves downwardly under. the ,pressure of the ram, the spaghetti which is looped around itengages the fixed blade 162 and is thereby severed. Thus `the spaghetti is severed at two points on diametrically opposite sides of ,rod v20 and elbow-shaped portions-.of thespaghetti are detached'from the main body of the'spaghetti to `fall down upon chute 74. The ram 66 and its cam rfollowers 68 are yieldingly maintained in raised ,position by-a coil spring, not shown.

4Chute 74 carries the elbows down into a conveyor .76 which delivers them to a suitable receptable. This .conveyor may consist of a `pair of'rotating screws or worms 78 and 80 mounted in a duct-or casing 82. The elbows are Ipropelled-through the duct by means of said screws, and they are indicated in Fig. lby reference character 84. 'I'lhese screws perform another function, namely, to carry rod 20 away at the conclusion of the cutting operation. When the cutting operation is at an end, arms22 Iand rod pusher or `pushers 38 are retracted to their-respective inoperative positions. The rod is thereby freed and it falls off the end of resilient support 72, down chute 74 andonto screws 78 and 80 which'carry itaway.

It lwill be noted in Fig. 4 that aspring member 86 is positioned ateachend of rod 20 and it will be understood that its function'is to center said rod on'resilient support 72. Eazchof these ,spring members isfastened to anuprightV1-4. Whenarms 22 `and pushers 38 are yretracted torfreerod 20, :it maybe foundnecessary to release at leastone of the springmembers before the rod will be fully freed. But once ythis is done, the rod will topple off the resilient support, `as above'indicated, and it will roll downrthe chute.

It has'been lstatedzthat there is a third blade 64. This bladeis mounted on the one of the arms 88 which is pivoted on shaft k90 on uprights-14. Acam follower y96 ismounted on'arm88 `and it engages a cam'98on1shaft 32. lWhen-the cam-follower is in contact with the high side of said cam, arm 88 is thrust downwardly .until its blade64 engages and severs the spaghetti. A woodicleat supports the spaghetti at the cutting line, and it prevents injury tothe blade lafter the blade passes through the'spaghetti. Apad 15102 is provided adjacent blade ,64 to Aprevent ,the spaghetti from jumping out of place after the cutting operation last mentioned. A counterweight It will be under- 104 may be secured to arm 88 on the opposite side of shaft 90 from blade 64 to swing arm 88 upwardly to its inoperative position indicated by the interrupted lines 88a (Fig. l).

By reason of the foregoing, the spaghetti is cut into |two equal lengths: one between blades 60 and 62 on the one hand and blade 64 on the other hand, and the other on the opposite side of said blade 64. It will be noted that recesses 106 and 108 are formed in table 16. These recesses are provided to enable the operator of the machine to place his hands under the spaghetti and to scoop it `up in predetermined quantities for packaging. This is facilitated by reason of the fact that the center rod pusher is retracted by spring 46 and disappears under the table as shown in Fig. la.

The machine above described may be powered by hand or by electric motor or by a combination of the two. For example, screws 78 and 80 may be motor powered. Shaft 32 may be hand powered. Thus, a wheel 110 may be fixed to said shaft and handles 112 may be secured to said wheel. These handles may be held by hand to turn the wheel and thereby to turn the shaft and the cams mounted thereon.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention. Modifications may be incorporated therein within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

l claim:

1. A spaghetti-cutting machine for simultaneously cutting the bights or elbows from a plurality of strands of spaghetti looped about a rod, comprising a base, a table on said base, a iixed knife at one end of the table, means for holding lthe spaghetti-loaded rod at said end of the table parallel to and immediately above said fixed knife, a vertically movable knife at the same end of the table, above and parallel to said rod, and means to move said movable knife to cut simultaneously all of the bights or elbows from the strands of spaghetti on said rod.

2. A spaghetti-cutting machine in accordance with claim l, wherein the rod-holding means comprises a pair of arms on one side of the rod and at least one rod pusher on the opposite side of the rod, said rod pusher being movable in the direction of the arms to push and hold said rod against said arms.

3. A spaghetti-cutting machine for severing the elbows from a plurality of strands of spaghetti looped about a rod, comprising a table for the rod and the spaghetti looped about said rod, a fixed knife at one end of the table, a clamping means at said end of the table to hold the `rod in a straight line above and parallel to the cutting edge of said fixed knife, a iirst vertically moving knife at the same end of the table above and parallel to the rod and with its cutting edge directed downwardly toward said rod, a second vertically movable knife above said table intermediate the ends thereof with its cutting edge directed toward the table, and means to move at least said first movable knife to effect, in cooperation with said fixed knife, a simultaneous complete severance of all of the elbows form the strands of spaghetti on said rod.

4. In a spaghetti-cutting machine in accordance with l a plurality of strands of spaghetti looped once around a rod, retractable clamping means which engage the rod to straighten and hold it in place, a pair of diametrically opposed cutters with their cutting edges directed toward said rod, means to move at least one of said cutters toward the other to engage the spaghetti against the rod to cut olf simultaneously all the bights of the spaghetti, and a cutter which engages the straight portions of the spaghetti intermediate their ends to cut them into two equal lengths.

6. In a machine in accordance with claim 5, a chute adjacent the rod clamping means and the rod to catch the bights after `they are cut off the spaghetti and to catch the rod after it is released by the clamping means, and a conveyor at the lower end of the chute to receive the spaghetti bights and the rod from the chute and to convey Ithem away from the machine.

7. A spaghetti-cutting machine for severing the elbows from a plurality of strands of spaghetti looped about a rod, comprising a table for the rod and Ithe spaghetti looped about said rod, a fixed knife at one end of the table, clamping means at said end of the table to hold the rod in a straight line above and parallel to the cutting edge of said fixed knife, a vertically movable knife at the same end of the table above and parallel to the rod, said tabel having a resilient support for the rod, the vertically movable knife being movable into engagement with the spaghetti on the rod |to sever the same and to push said rod downwardly in the direction of the fixed knife until the spaghetti on said rod engages said fixed knife and is severed thereby.

8. A spaghetti-cutting machine for severing the elbows from a plurality of strands of spaghetti looped about a rod, comprising a table for the rod and the spaghetti looped about said rod, a `fixed knife at one end of the table, clamping means at said end of the table to hold the rod in a straight line above and parallel to the cutting edge of said fixed knife, ya vertically movable knife at the same end of the table above and parallel to the rod, said rod clamping means comprising a plurality of retractable arms which engage the :rod on one side thereof, and at least one retractable rod pusher which engages the rod on the opposite side thereof and pushes said rod against the retractable arms to straighten said rod and hold it in place against said arms.

References Cited in the file of this `patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,059 Gammel June 11, 1912 1,162,986 Dempsey Dec. 7, 1915 2,103,317 Cavagnaro Dec. 28, 1937 2,593,543 Curioni Apr. 22, 1952 2,622,545 Hummel Dec. 23, 1952 2,649,056 Autenrieth Aug. 18, 1953 

